Folding box and crate.



H. M. JOHNSTON & A. K. BOWMAN.

FOLDING BOX AND CRATE.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 20, 1909.

Patented Sept. 27, 1910.

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HOWARD M. JOHNSTON AND ADAM K. BOWMAN, 0F GREENSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING BOX AND CRATE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HOWARD M. JoI-INs- TON and ADAM K. BOWMAN, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Greensburg, in the county of \Vestmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Boxes and Crates, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to folding boxes or crates, and the objects of our invention are to provide a box or crate that can be advantageously used by merchants for the shipment of dry goods, poultry, eggs and such matter generally transported in strong and durable boxes or crates, and to provide a folding box or crate that can be easily and quickly knocked-down or set-up.

Other objects of our invention are to provide a folding box or crate that will occupy a comparatively small space when shipped or stored in a kiiocked-down position, and to furnish a folding box with simple and effective means for retaining the same in a rigid set-up position.

Other objects of our invention are to provide a folding box or crate consisting of comparatively few parts that can be easily assembled, repaired and maintained in a sanitary condition, and to accomplish the above results by a folding box or crate that will be simple in construction, durable, efficient in use and easy to handle.

Vith the above and such other objects in view as may hereinafter appear the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter specifically described and then claimed.

Reference will now be had to the drawing forming a part of this specification, wherein there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that the structural elements thereof can be varied or changed, as to the size,shape and manner of assemblage without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of the box or crate in a set-up position. Fig. 2 1s a snnllar view of a box or crate in a knocked-down position. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 4 is an end View of a box or crate in the position shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a cross section of the box or crate as shown in Specification of Letters Fatent.

Application filed November 20, 1909.

Patented Sept. 27, 1910.

Serial No. 529,145.

I Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional i view of a portion of a box or crate, and Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal section of a portion of the box or crate.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 denotes a bottom plate and hinged to the bottom plate, as at 2, are the lower sections 3 of longitudinal side walls, these sections being hinged, as at a, to upper sections 5. Both of said sections have the edges thereof reinforced by exterior strips (5 suitably secured to said sections. The sections are hinged whereby the side walls can be collapsed upon the base plate 1, with the lower sections 3 folded upon the base plate and the upper sections 5 folded upon the lower sections. The upper edges of the upper sections 5 are hinged, as at 7, to the top frame, comprising longitudinal bars 8 and 9, said bars having the ends thereof connected by transverse cleats 10 mounted upon the upper sides of the bars 8 and 9.

l1 denotes a lid hinged, as at 12, to the bar 8, said lid being adapted to fold upon the frame between the cleats 10. The outer side of the lid 11 is reinforced by strips 13 suitably secured thereto, the combined thickness of said lid and strips corresponding to the thickness of the cleats 10, whereby when the lid is closed it will be flush with the upper surface of the cleats. The front edge of the lid can be provided with suitable means for fastening the lid in a closed position, for instance a hasp 14; and a staple 15.

16 denotes end *alls hinged to the underface of the cleats 10, as at 17, the outer sides of said end walls being reinforced by strips 18. The vertical edges of the end walls 16 are recessed, as at 19, and provided with counter-sunk straps 2O fitting over said recesses and providing openings or slots adapted to receive hook-shaped members 21, carried by the inner sides of the lower side wall sections 3. These members when engaging the straps 2O prevent the side walls from bulging at the ends due to an excessive amount of matter placed in the box or crate.

22 denotes resilientclasps carried by the bottom plate 1 centrally of the ends thereof, the horizontal portion 23 of each clasp being provided with an opening 2 f registering with a socket 525 in the bottom plate 1. The upper end of each clasp is provided with an opening 26 for a purpose that will presently appear.

The reference numeral 27 denotes a resilient arm carried by the lowermost strip 18 of each end wall, said arm having a depending pin 28 adapted to extend through the opening 29 provided therefor in the strip and also through the opening 24C of the clasp and engage in the socket 25 to lock the end walls relative to the bottom plate 1.

The reference numeral 30 denotes straps carried by the outer edges of the cleats 10 and in the edge of each clasp is mounted a pin 31 and each cleat adjacent to said pin is cut away, as at 32 to provide clearance for the fingers, as will hereinafter appear.

Assuming that the box or crate is set-up, as shown in Figs. 1, 4, 6 and 7, it is not necessary to open the lid 11 to knock-down the box. It is only necessary to raise the free ends of the resilient arms 27 and move the pins 28 out of the sockets 25 and the openings Ql to permit of the end walls being swung inwardly and upwardly against the underside of the lid 11. The lower and upper sections 3 and of the side walls can then be folded inwardly, as best shown in Fig, 5 and as these walls are collapsed, the resilient clasps 22 enter the space between the straps b0 and the cleats 10 and engage the pins 3 The box or crate is then in a folded position. To open or set-up the box the fingers are pressed against the upper ends of the clasp 22 said clasp sprung outwardly and then the frame supporting the lid can be raised, the side walls swung outwardly into position and the end walls lowered and located in engagement with the bottom plate 1.

lVhile in the drawings we have illustrated a box, it is obvious that our improvement can be embodied in a crate or similar structure and for this reason we do not care to confine ourselves to the adaptation of our invention.

Having now described our invention what we claim as new, is

l. A folding box or crate, embodying a bottom plate, side walls hinged to the bottom plate and formed of an upper and lower section hinged together and adapted to fold inwardly upon said bottom plate, a lid supporting frame hinged to the upper section of each of said side walls, end walls hinged to the ends of said frame and adapted to swing inwardly and against said frame, clasps carried by said bottom plate and adapted to engage the ends of said frame and retain said box in a knocked-down position, and means carried by the lower edges of said end walls and adapted to extend through saicLclasps and into the bottom plate for holding the walls upright whereby the box is maintained in a set-up position.

2. A folding box or crate, embodying a bottom plate, side walls hinged to the bottom plate and formed of an upper and lower section hinged together and adapted to fold inwardly upon said bottom plate, a lid support-ing frame hinged to the upper section of each of said side walls, end walls hinged to the ends of said frame and adapted to swing inwardly and against said frame, clasps carried by said bot-tom plate and adapted to engage the ends by said frame and retain said box in a knocked-down position, means carried by the lower edges of said end walls and adapted to extend through said clasps and into the bottom plate for holding the walls upright whereby the box is maintained in a setup position, said means including a resilient arm and a pin carried by said arm and extending through the lower edge of an end wall.

A folding box embodying a bottom plate, side walls each formed 'of an upper and lower section, said lower section hinged to the bottom plate and said walls adapted to fold inwardly upon said bottom plate, a frame ha ving the upper edges of the upper sections of said side walls hinged thereto, a lid hinged to said frame, end walls hinged to the ends of said frame and adapted to swing inwardly and against said frame, clasps carried by said bottom plate, pins carried by the ends of said frame and adapted to be engaged by said clasps to retain said box in a knocked-clown position, hook-shaped members carried by the ends of said side walls and adapted to engage said end walls and prevent said side walls from bulging, and movable pins arranged at the lower edges of said end walls and adapted to en gage said clasps and said bottom plate to retain said end walls in a vertical position with said box in a set-up position.

In testimony whereof we aifix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

HOlVAR-D M. JOHNSTON. ADAM K. BOlVMAN. lVitnesses WILLIAM C. APPLEBY, JAMES C. LAUFFER. 

